Dance into the Light (song)

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

"Dance into the Light"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Dance into the Light
B-side
  • "Take Me Down"
  • "It's Over"
Released20 September 1996 [1]
Genre
Length4:23
Label
Songwriter(s)Phil Collins
Producer(s)
Phil Collins singles chronology
"Somewhere"
(1996)
"Dance into the Light"
(1996)
"It's in Your Eyes"
(1996)
Music video
"Dance into the Light" on YouTube

"Dance into the Light" is a 1996 song performed by English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor Phil Collins, released as the first single from his sixth studio album, Dance into the Light (1996). It reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart, but was a disappointment on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 45. B-sides are songs "Take Me Down" and "It's Over". The song also peaked within the top 10 in Czech Republic, Hungary and Scotland. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 29 in October 1996. The track was the only song from Dance into the Light to be featured on his compilation album ...Hits in 1998.

Critical reception[edit]

Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet described the song as a "bombastic light-reggae swing", adding it as an "absolute hit".[2] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine said in his review of the Dance into the Light album, that the song "recalls the snappy punch" of Collins' 1985 song "Sussudio".[3] Larry Flick from Billboard called it a "sunny and uptempo ditty that is awash in Caribbean-style horns and Stax-like pop beats." He felt that Collins "sounds like he is having an absolute blast here. In fact, you can almost hear the grin he must have been wearing in the recording studio shining through the music."[4] The magazine's Paul Verna declared it as "peppy".[5]

The Daily Vault's Christopher Thelen wrote that "Dance Into the Light" "with its different rhythm pattern, instantly engages the listener, and is one of the best singles Collins has written in a long time."[6] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly stated that the singer "tries to broaden his palette", and added that "Afro-beat rhythms propel" the song, "which also tosses in politically correct references to South Africa."[7] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, noting that Collins "returns with an uptempo ballad that bears his unmistakeable mark."[8]

Music video[edit]

The accompanying music video for "Dance Into the Light" was directed by English musician and music video director Kevin Godley.[9]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Dance into the Light" – 4:23
  2. "Take Me Down" – 3:27
  3. "It's Over" (Home Demo) – 4:22

Charts[edit]

Chart (1996–97) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) 36
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] 50
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[11] 7
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[12] 3
Czech Republic (IFPI CR)[13] 3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[14] 29
France (SNEP)[15] 48
Germany (Official German Charts) 42
Hungary (Mahasz)[16] 4
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[17] 34
Italy (Musica e dischi)[18] 22
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 23
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 14
Poland (Music & Media)[20] 2
Scotland (OCC)[21] 9
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 26
UK Singles (OCC) 9
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 45
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[23] 6
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[24] 35
US Cash Box Top 100[25] 45

Credits[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Phil Collins singles".
  2. ^ Aftonbladet. 21 September 1996.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Phil Collins - Dance into the Light". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. ^ Flick, Larry (21 September 1996). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 64. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. ^ Verna, Paul (26 October 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  6. ^ Thelen, Christopher (22 February 1997). "Phil Collins - Dance Into The Light". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  7. ^ Browne, David (1 November 1996). "Dance Into the Light". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 14 September 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Dance Into The Light (1996) by Phil Collins". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 16 December 1996. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 7 December 1996. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  13. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 October 1996. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 October 1996. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in French). Les classement single.
  16. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. 2 November 1996. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Íslenski Listinn NR. 192 Vikuna 17.10 - 23.10. '96" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. 18 October 1996. p. 16. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Phil Collins".
  19. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Phil Collins" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  20. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Poland" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 October 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  22. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary songs, 9 November 1996". Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  24. ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/phil-collins/chart-history/tfm/
  25. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, 16 November 1996[permanent dead link]